The newly-formed Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) said it would look into the workings of the entire broiler supply chain and price movement from ex-farm level to retailers, to ensure fair competition among traders and reasonable pricing for the benefit of consumers, reports TheStar.

“The review is based on public interest in chicken prices,” said an MyCC spokesman.

The review ends on 29 August.

The commission was set up in January to enforce the Competition Act 2010, which prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position in the market.

In a related development, the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry has asked traders who had marked an increase in their pricing to justify their action, as required under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2010.

This is to deter traders from taking advantage of their dominance in a market and raising prices to increase profits, said the ministry's price unit senior assistant Low Swee Hon.

Meanwhile, Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Tan Lian Hoe said the minis- try would launch its price control scheme soon to regulate prices of essential goods.

“Essential items and their prices will be listed under the scheme so retailers will not overcharge customers,” she told a press conference

Earlier, she launched the Competition Act public handbook.

Last year, 19 items were listed, including chicken meat, beef, buffalo meat, chicken eggs, tomatoes and red chillies.

Over 3,000 handbooks in English are to be distributed at MyCC offices.